Improvement in malt-kilns



W BLAKEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

y Malt Kiln. No. 69,534. Patented Oct. 8, 1867.

FIG. v1. ffy

. l "K\ l N. Pinks PholwLnmgmphen wanhinlnm D. c. V

I y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. BLAKEY.

` Malt Kiln.'

- No. 69,534. f Patented Oct. 8, 1867.

@KM/M 6MM Y. y/ f Y I y n. PETERS. naamw. www... uc.

3A Sheets-Sheet 3.

w. BLAKEY.

Malt Kiln.

Patented Oct. 8, 1867.

W/r/VEJLTES. f

N. PETER Plmvo-Liuwgmpher. wnshiugmn. D. 24

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BLAKEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MALT-KILNS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 69,534, dated October 8, 15;.167.

.To all whom t mayv concern.-

Be it known that I, W BLAKEY,.of the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland, have invented new andusleful Improvements in Malt-Kilns;V and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made part ot' this specification.

This invention relates to the kilns in which barley is dried after steeping in the process of malting or drying any wet grain.

My invention consists chietly, first, in the provision of mechanical means for stirring and turning the barley or other grain while under 'the action of the heat within the kiln, hand turning and stirring being the most laborious and arduous work in this p rocess, as heretofore conducted; secondly, in novel means for heating, whereby I am enabled to produce the more rapid saccharification of the grain and avoid loss of alcohol by evaporation and of sugar by acidulation.

'Figure 1 is a vertical central section ot' a malt-kiln embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section ot' the 'same in the plane indicated by the line :c Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section on the line y y. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the kiln and condenser.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A represents the shell or casing constituting the body of the kiln, the upper and lower portions of which may be conical, while the central intermediate part may be cylindrical, as shown in Figs. l and 4 of the drawings. The casing is preferably of galvanized iron ,as

this -material'conserves and economizes the heat.

B is a perforated floor suitably supported within the kiln A, at or nearv the mid-height thereof. The grain being placed upon this floor is dried by the conjoint action of the heat of` the furnace C and of the steam-pipes D D. The vapors emanating from the grain may be distilled by means of the worm E, which communicates with the top of the still and conveys the vapors to the condenser F, Fig. 4t.

C represents the pipe aftording communication between the furnace and the. kiln, the heat being controlled .by the register C2, whereby cool air is admitted in any desired quan- 'ty to the interior of the kiln or entirelyY excluded, as occasion may require.

Ihe heating surface or capacity of the upper steam-coil, D, may be double that of the lower coil, or equal thereto. By having the upper heating-surface great than the lower the increased rarefaction above produces a constant upward current of air and carries olfany condensed vapors which might otherwise return and settle upon the grain. The provision of this increased heating-surface above also reduces the atmospheric pressure upon the grain, prevents the'contractiou ofthelatter,and superinduces the more rapid saccharitication. This advantage in a great degree 'arises from the heating appliancesindependently ofthedouble heating capacity' above, as themeans are such as toinsure more rapid formation of sugar, and by carrying oli` Vthe aqueous vapors constantly and freely avoid all danger of acidulous fermentation.

'G G G may represent a series ot' plows or stirrers adj ustably attached to radial arms H H E, which join a common hub, I, which is keyed to the vertical central shaft, J. llhis shaft carries a bevel-gear wheel, K, with which meshes the bevel-pinion L, who-se shaft L' carries at its outer end a pulley, L2, upon which works a band driven by an engine. This arrangement, or any substantially equivalent mechanical means, enables the plows to be regularly and more etfectually kept in motion, preserving the level ot' the grain, while keeping it well stirred and detaching the germs.

The grain may be introduced through the door M and removed from thekiln through the door N.

The plows may be so set or adjusted as to throw the grain in one direction. Hence they may be made to discharge the grain through the opening left by the removal of one of the sections composing the floor B, a chute being placed so as to receive the grain and conduct it out through the lower door, O. A hand-hole for inspection 'may be employed.

The stirring apparatus may be used in connection with the furnace without the steam, or the steam may form the sole heating medium. A common ventilator may be substituted for the worm. The sheet-iron, of which the shell of the kiln is composed, may be corrugated to oppose greater strength in ease of expansion for the purpose set forth.

or contraction. 3. The combination, with a. malt-kiln, of the Having thus described my invention, what I worm E and condenser F, substantially as and claim as new, und desire to secure by Letters for the purpose described.

inaltlriln or gruindrier, substantially as and Patent, is- 4. A galvanized iron casing in a malt-kiln,

1. The provision, in :t malt-kilmof mechnnifor the purposes set forth. cal appliances for stirring the grain, substnu- WM. BLAKEY.

tially as set forth. Witnesses:

2. The combination of 011e or more steam- OCTAVIUS KNIGHT,

pipes and a furnace for supplying lient in n l J. E. M. BOWEN. 

